Chair-cane.



' F.TUM.-

CHAIR CANE. APPLICATION IILIID JUNE 23, 1909.

Patented Mar. 15,1910.

m. m 3 h and engage, upon the insertion of the FRANK TUM, OF BUCYRUS, OHIO.

CHAIR-CANE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed June 23, 1909. Serial No. 503,917.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK Tom, a citizen of the United States, residing at- Bucyrus, in the county of Grawford'and State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Chair-Cane, of which the following is a specification.

It is the object of the present invention to provide an improved construction of chair cane, and the invention aims, primarily, to provide a cane of this class compact in structure and easy of conversion into a chair.

One feature of the invention resides in the construction of the base provided for supporting the cane when converted into a chair or stool, the base being so constructed that it may be folded into compact form and disposed bodily within the cane.

Another feature of the invention resides in so constructing and arranging the seat, in one form of the invention, that the cane proper will afford a back-rest in conjuction with the seat.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a perspective sectional view, of the invention, the base for the cane and the seat being disposed within the cane. Fig. 2 is a perspective view, showing the device con verted into a seat such as is contemplated by the invention.

In the drawings, the cane is illustrated as in the form of a tubular body, indicated by the numeral 6 and having fitted upon its upper end a handle 7 At its lower end the cane is formed with vertical slots 8, which are preferably three in number and are arranged at equidistant points, and with branch slots 9, which lead in a circumferential direction from the slots 8. A ferrule in the nature of a plug 10, is fitted in the lower end of the cane and is provided with studs 11, which project radially therefrrlvm, P in the lower end of the tubular body of the cane, in the slots 8, and the plug is provided with an annular circumscribing flange 12, which engages with the lower end of the cane body and limits the degree to which the plug may be inserted in the said body, the abutment of this flange 12 against the lower end of the cane body serving to position the studs 11 upon the plug directly opposite the branch slots 9, and rotation of the plug serving to engage the studs in the said branch slots, whereby dropping of the plug from position will be prevented. The plug 10 is formed at its lower end with a transverse flange 13, which constitutes a fingerpiece whereby the plug may be readily rotated to permit of its engagement in and disengagement from the lower end of the cane body. The fact will be appreciated that when the handle 7 is in position in the upper end of the cane body and the plug is in the lower end thereof, the body will be closed to prevent loss of the base and the seat therefrom, these members being stored within the cane body as before.

As illustrated in the drawings, the base for-supporting the cane when the same is converted mto a chair or stool, comprises a head, which is indicated by the numeral 14, and is of a size to fit snugly within the cane body, and this head has a plurality of pairs of spaced cars 15, between which are pivoted the inner ends of legs 16. Near its inner or pivoted end, each leg 16 is formed with a notch 17, and when the base, comprised of the head 14 and legs 16, is assembled with the lower end of the cane body, the legs are reversed from the position which they assume in Fig. l of the drawings, whereby they will extend at an angle, substantially as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings, and the head 1 1 is then inserted in the lower end of the tubular body of the cane, with the legs projecting through the slots 8 in the said lower end of the cane-body. When so positioned, the upper end edges of these slots 8 will seat in the notches 17 in the edges of the legs 16, and the said legs will thus be held against folding, to a certain degree. In order to positively insure against col lapsing or folding of the legs, the plug 10 is inserted into the lower end of the cane body, with the studs 11 engaging in the branch slot 9, and the base is in this manner locked within the body at the lower end thereof, and the legs 16 of the base are firmly held in extended relation, whereby to support the cane in upright position, as, for example, as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawmgs.

The seat embodied in the invention is substantially triangular in form, and is embodied in frame made up of several connected wire members, of which two, forming the sides of the seat, are indicated by the numeral 18. Each of these members 18, as stated, consists of a strand of wire, and this strand is formed at its outer end with an eye, indicated by the numeral 19, and at its inner end with a depending or Patented Mar. 15, 1910.

" 1 space the members 18 apart at a predetermined angle and degree, or, in other words, prevent their approach beyond certain limits. The front member of the triangular frame is indicated by the numeral 26,

' and is formed also from a st and of wire which at one end is provided with an eye 27 permanently connected with the eye 19 at the outer upper end of one of the side members 18, and at its other end this front frame member is formed with a hook 28, which is engageable with the eye at the outer end of the other side member 18 of the seat frame, this front frame member 26 serving to prevent separation of the side frame members beyond a certain degree. It will be understood that inasmuch as the front frame member accomplishes the result just stated, and the abutments or shoulders 25 serving to limit the approach of the side frame members, the said side frame members are held rigidly in proper position. In addition to the frame members just described, there are provided brace members which support the forward portion of the triangular seat frame, and these brace members are each indicated by the numeral 29, and at their upper ends are formed each with an eye 30, connected permanently each with the eye 19 at the outer end of one of the side frame members 18. At their inner ends the brace members 29 are downbent as indicated by the numeral 31, and are inserted removably in sleeve-like sockets 32 at the extremities of a threaded sleeve permanently secured upon the tubular body of the cane adjacent the lower end thereof. It is preferable that a sheet of canvas be secured at its side edges to the side members 18 of the frame just described, and that the inner or short edge of this sheet be provided with means for engagement with the openings 2 1 in the flange 28, whereby the said edge may be removably connected with the flange. Such a sheet of canvas will constitute the seat proper, as will be readily understood, and is indicated in the drawings by the reference numeral. 34-, although it is omitted from the showing of Fig. 1 of the drawings for the sake of clearness. It will be readily understood that the cane body affords a back rest when the device is in use as a seat.

IV hat is claimed is:

1. In a device of the class described, a tubular body member, a support for the said member at the lower end thereof, and a seat frame comprising side members removably connected at their inner ends to the body member, a front frame member connecting the outer ends of the side members of the seat frame and bracing the same against separation, abutments upon the tubular body member engaged by the side members, where bythe said members are held against approach, and brace members connected at their upper outer ends to the outer ends of the side members, and at their inner lower ends to the tubular body member, the said seat frame being located considerably below the upper end of the tubular body member.

2. In a device of the class described, a tubular member, a support for said member at the lower end thereof and a seat frame comprising side members removably pivotally connected at their inner ends to the body member, a front member connecting the outer ends of the side members of the seat frame and bracing the same against separation, means upon the body member for preventing approach of the side members of the seat frame beyond certain limits,

the said side members of the seat frame being formed at their outer ends with eyes, and brace members pivoted at their lower ends to the body members and projecting upwardly outwardly therefrom and provided at their upper ends with eyes having pivotal connection with the eyes at the outer end of the side members of the seat frame.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto afl'ixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

FRANK TUM.

Vitnesses J. R. MiLLER, GUS MERIDITH. 

